- April 26, 2024
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Chief Jesse Godfrey, the new top cop at the Ormond Beach Police Dept., recently discussed plans for the future including body-worn cameras for police and a greater presence on social media.
Cameras not only can show what happened when there are conflicting statements, but video can also be used as evidence in an investigation, he said. Plus, they can be used for training officers by showing actual footage.
“Those are three good reasons,” he said.
He plans to look into the police department having an official Facebook page, but it’s not as simple as an individual opening one. There are state requirements for data archival storage of public records.
“Our Police Athletic League … serves as a great vessel to touch the lives of our youth.”
Jesse Godfrey, police chief
The widest spread crime in Ormond Beach, as in most cities, is property crime, he said. The public could help themselves and the police by not leaving valuables in their cars and locking their cars.
“That would reduce our workload tremendously,” he said.
Godfrey said the community outreach programs have been successful.
“Coffee with a Cop has had a great positive impact,” Godfrey said. “We have already expanded, with the initiative of our Outreach Officers Jay Brennan and John Dovine.”
When asked about accomplishments at the department, Godfrey points to the Drug Abuse Resistance Education program and the Police Athletic League.
“I believe that our D.A.R.E program continues to be one of the best programs that involve our officers interacting with our children in school.” Godfrey said. “Our Police Athletic League is one of two programs in the entire county and serves as a great vessel to touch the lives of our youth through art, education, sports and youth leadership.
Asked what he has enjoyed most about 27 years in law enforcement, he said it was making a positive difference in people’s lives, such as helping a person get back on their feet, working through a neighborhood problem or finding something that someone lost.
He’s looking forward to his new responsibilities.
“It’s an honor to have the opportunity to be a part of something great,” he said. “This department has some of the best men and women in blue I have had the privilege to work with.”
